As promo looks for new regions to export products or source materials from, Turkey claims that it is ready to step to the plate.
Ömer Karatemiz, chair of the Promotion and Printing Industrialists’ Business People Association (PROMASİAD) in Turkey says that the association is attempting to expand conversations with the U.S. promo market in order to emphasize “the potential of the Turkish promotional sector.”
- According to Karatemiz, 60% of Turkish promo exports go to countries within the European Union.
- The U.S. promo market, however, dwarfs the EU’s market in size, more than quadrupling it in conservative measures.
This claim comes as promo companies mull importing options amid political instability and ethical concerns in places like China and South Asia.
Filling A Potential Exporting Void
Karatemiz’s comments come at a strategic time as the promo world looks for alternatives to dealing with and operating within China, where ethical concerns and tariffs make business difficult or unpredictable.
The association chair said as much himself, telling Turkish newspaper the Hurriyet Daily News, “The U.S. no longer wants to buy promotional products from China.
“If we can get the right positioning here in terms of logistics and local service, secure the right investments, and develop the right product concept, I believe we can capture a much bigger share of the U.S. market as a result.”
- Realistically, the U.S. promo market has proven more likely to move its exporting from China to Bangladesh; last year PCNA told PPAI Media that it had moved 90% of its cotton procurement in that direction.
- However, current political unrest in Bangladesh – including violence, curfews and internet blackouts – are causing disruption to the country’s apparel supply chain.
“It’s critical that importers look at regional stability, as well as prioritizing safety and ethics, when considering sourcing from emerging markets,” says Rachel Zoch, PPAI’s public affairs and research editor.
Comparatively speaking, Turkey can offer those assurances. It is simply a matter of whether they can produce quality exports at a competitive price and develop relationships with U.S. promo firms.
Karatemiz’s PROMASİAD hopes to strategically invest in bridging the geographical distance between the two markets, with an estimated potential of $5 billion in promo exports over the coming years.
